One-Button Foldable Playard Frame Using Sliding-Member Linkage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing playards have complex folding mechanisms that are difficult for users to operate, resulting in poor user experience and low folding efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A one-button foldable bed frame design featuring a connecting rod assembly connected to the bottom frame rod and a sliding member slidably connected to the upright rod, allowing for easy unfolding and folding by rotating the bottom frame rod to drive the sliding member and frame-around connecting rods to specific positions, simplifying the operation and enhancing folding efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional locking mechanisms are used on each side of the upper bumper, then the bed frame can be securely locked, but the operation process becomes complicated and difficult for users to perform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple locking mechanisms into a single integrated locking device that simultaneously locks all four sides of the upper bumper. This merging of functions allows one locking operation to secure the entire bed frame, resolving the contradiction between secure locking and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a secure locking mechanism and as a user-friendly interface. The single-button design provides universal ease of operation while maintaining the reliability of secure locking through the integrated mechanism that engages all four sides simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple separate locking operations are required for base and bumper, then secure locking is achieved, but the operation process becomes time-consuming and reduces folding efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking securityVSAvoidfolding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device is pre-configured to simultaneously engage all four sides of the upper bumper when activated. This preliminary arrangement of the locking mechanism ensures that secure locking of all components is achieved in a single operation, eliminating the need for multiple sequential locking steps and thereby improving folding efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the locking operations for the base and all four bumpers into a single integrated action. The locking device simultaneously secures all components, achieving both reliable locking and high folding efficiency by eliminating sequential operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If complex folding mechanisms are used to ensure stability, then the bed frame remains stable, but the structure becomes complicated and difficult to operate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebed frame stabilityVSAvoidfolding mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bed frame is divided into modular segments (base, upright rods, bumpers) that can independently fold while maintaining overall stability. This segmentation allows each component to be simplified in design while the coordinated folding of all segments preserves the stability of the complete structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The folding mechanism incorporates dynamic elements that automatically maintain stability during the folding process. The mechanism transitions smoothly between folded and unfolded states, providing stability at each stage without requiring complex static structures, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3669703B1One-button folding bedstead and game bed
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 ANHUI COOL BABY SCI & TECH DEV CORP
  • EP3669703B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3669703B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3669703B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed are a one-button foldable bed frame and a playard, which relate to the field of infant playard apparatus. The one-button foldable bed frame includes a base, a plurality of brackets and a plurality of folding mechanisms. One end of the bottom frame rod is hinged to the base, the other end of the bottom frame rod is hinged to the upright rod, the plurality of upright rods are provided to surround the base at intervals, the upright rod is hinged to the two frame-around rods, respectively, each of the frame-around rods is hinged to one frame-around rod of an adjacent bracket, the sliding member is slidably connected to the upright rod, the sliding member is hinged to the two frame-around connecting rods, respectively, the frame-around connecting rod is hinged to the frame-around rod, and the bottom frame rod is connected to the sliding member through the connecting rod assembly. Compared with the prior art, the one-button foldable bed frame provided by the present disclosure can be quickly unfolded for use or folded for storage due to the use of the connecting rod assembly connected to the bottom frame rod and the sliding member slidably connected to the upright rod, which is convenient to operate, and has high folding efficiency, high practicability and high cost performance.